DIY & Crafts

16 Must-have DIY Leave In Conditioner Formulas

by craftmin | January 11, 2018

With the lack of sebum that keeps our hair most, it tends to become dry and brittle. These conditions undeniably hamper your ability to tweak on your crowning glory as you please. Worse, your hair damages itself as you try to. Fortunately, there are DIY leave in conditioner formulas that can address this pesky problem with our hair.

The Need for Hair Moisture

To keep your hair manageable and strong, it has to be at least moist enough to hydrate each strand inside-out. As mentioned, a dry hair is more prone to getting damaged due to its brittle state. But if your hair is naturally dry, relying on hair’s natural oil is oftentimes farfetched.

While you can opt to use hot oil and infuse some moisture into your hair, this method isn’t necessarily applicable for outdoors. But there is another way of keeping your hair moist and not be bothered to just stay indoors: leave in conditioners.

Leave in conditioners are especially formulated to be applied liberally on the hair and leaving it there to do its wonders. Unlike a typical conditioner which requires rinsing, a leave in conditioner can be left alone on your hair throughout the day.

The Problem with Commercial Leave In Conditioners

Given the popularity of leave in conditioners to those who suffer from dry hair, many commercial products are in the market for it. However, these store goods are laced with ingredients that are deemed unnatural for the human body. Consequently, if you are allergic to any of such ingredient, chance is good that you’re not eligible to its use.

That is a major bummer especially considering your desperate need to moisturize your hair which your body couldn’t by itself. But, the again, why spend money on something you yourself could just make?

Advantages of DIY Leave In Conditioner

With just a bit of understanding what your hair needs, you can easily make your own DIY leave in conditioner formula. Apart from just having to make your own, one of the perks of doing so is full control of the ingredients to use with the concoction. This ensures that no harmful ingredient is getting into your own mix.

But if you are clueless about any recipe to follow, here are some ideas you can start off with in the meantime:

Coco-Honey Formula

Do not let the name of this mixture led you into thinking that there is honey in its mix. There is not. However, the moisturizing power of coconut oil in this concoction is enough to hydrate hair strands and strengthen brittle hair. Furthermore, both the amino acid and protein from avocado oil act as a relaxant of the scalp and repairer of hair follicles.

Here’s what you need:

1-ounce coconut oil

2-ounce aloe vera gel

1-tablespoon avocado oil

1/3 cup of water

To start the concoction, simply mix both avocado and coconut oil in a small container. On a separate container (spray bottle), add both aloe vera gel and water as a mixture. Afterwards, add both mixtures in the spray bottle.

Before using, make sure to shake the bottle properly. Also, you may want to store it at a temperature higher than room temperature to prevent the oil from solidifying.

Herbal Water Formula

Shea butter and olive oil are a popular heavy moisturizer for the hair. These two ingredients make for a perfect pair towards coarse or thick hair.

On the other hand, the thyme and rosemary essential oils contain antiseptic properties which benefit the scalp. These two ingredients fight off dandruff while soothing inflamed scalp and maintaining estrogen balance in the body. All of these factors aid in promoting hair growth.

Here’s what you need:

1 cup of water

½ cup of aloe vera gel

1 tablespoon coconut oil

½ cup of coconut milk

1 tablespoon shea butter

½ teaspoon thyme oil

1 teaspoon rosemary oil

1 teaspoon olive oil

If the coconut oil has become solid after being stored in room temperature, melt it first to its liquid state. In a small spray bottle, mix aloe vera gel, coconut oil, and water.

On a separate bowl, mix the two essential oils in it. When done, add this mixture into the spray bottle containing the original mixture. This will complete the concoction. Shake well before using.

Should the mixture emit a pungent odor it, simply dilute it by adding more water.

Jojoba Formula

The jojoba oil has a lot in common with our hair’s natural sebum. When applied, it gives our hair its natural shine while improving the inner qualities of the strand itself. Regarded as lighter in potency than other concoctions, this mixture is ideal for wavy or fine hair.

But apart from improving the quality of our hair, this mixture also aids in promoting hair growth. For instance, an application of this solution to the hair prevents dandruff and maintains the scalp’s pH which both facilitate hair growth.

Here’s what you need:

1 ½ cup of aloe vera juice

2 cups of coconut water

2 teaspoon jojoba oil

This mixture is relatively straightforward. Simply, mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. To ensure proper consistency per every use, make sure to shake the bottle spray before using.

Ylang-Ylang Formula

When suffering from a hair that is rough, brittle, and frizzy, the Ylang-Ylang formula makes for a perfect solution. Dubbed the “anti-breakage formula,” this solution avoids unwanted hair loss resulting from damages.

Although all of the ingredients in the mixture are helpful, it’s the ylang-ylang and honey that are the star of this concoction. Honey is responsible for the restoration of the hair from the shafts. Ylang-Ylang, on the other hand, plays a role in promoting hair growth.

Here’s what you need:

4 ounces of water

6 drops of preferred essential oil (anything)

2 teaspoon aloe vera juice

2 teaspoon coconut oil

2 teaspoon Ylang-Ylang oil

2 teaspoon coconut water

2 teaspoon honey

In a small container, pour both coconut water and aloe vera juice. Add both honey and water afterwards, then mix. From a different container, mix all of the oils by pouring them all in it. When mixed, add this separate mixture into the water solution.

Always shake well before using. Apply liberally when do. Lastly, you may want careful attention about the coconut oil’s possible solidification. Always preheat the solution when solids are formed after being stored in room temperature.

Lavender Silk Formula

When moisture is a lot needed for styling, this moisture gives the benefit of hydration for the hair. When paired with styles the likes of bantu knots, braids, or twists, the usefulness of this solution shines.

Lavender oil alone is especially auspicious is locking in moisture to each hair strand. In addition, this oil has the power to soothe inflamed scalp and relieve stress on the body.

Here’s what you need:

½ cup of coconut milk

3 teaspoon shea butter

2 teaspoon jojoba oil

5 drops Lavender essential oil

Begin the concoction by mixing in coconut milk with liquid shea butter. Add the oils into the mixture afterwards. Pour everything into a small bottle spray. Preheat the concoction before using. Apply liberally as needed.

Honey Butter Ointment

Individually, coconut oil and shea butter is known for their moisturizing capability. This benefit boils down to both ingredients ability to induce the production of sebum for the hair.

Lavender, on the other hand, is popular is promoting hair growth. It also provides comfort from stress when used for massaging the scalp.

Lastly, the honey in the mixture acts as a natural emollient which softens and manages the hair. Equally as important, it restores the good quality of the hair by fixing the shaft.

Here’s what you need:

1 teaspoon of honey

1-ounce shea butter

Few drops lavender essential oil

1-ounce coconut oil

Ensure that both coconut oil and shea butter are in their liquid form. If not, preheat both ingredients separately until they melt. Mix both afterwards. Add both the lavender oil and honey into the mixture. Mix well. Refrigerate the solution to come up with a soft consistency to be applied on the scalp and hair.

Tea Tree Hair Pomatum

Known for its medium weight consistency, this topical solution is meant to the moisturization and the treatment of certain scalp conditions. This benefit boils down to tea tree oil’s anti-microbial properties which free the scalp from unwanted parasites. Consequently, the clean scalp which this solution promotes facilitates hair growth.

Here’s what you need:

2 teaspoon jojoba oil

½ cup of shea butter

2 tablespoon aloe vera gel

2 teaspoon tea tree oil

½ cup of coconut milk

Before proceeding in the mixing, ensure that the shea butter is in its liquid form. If not, do the necessary preheating. Add everything as a single mixture. Mix well. Refrigerate so as to attain wanted consistency.

Hibiscus Hair Cream

Say good bye to dry hair with this moisturizing solution. Apart from keeping the hair hydrated, it also reduces dandruff, frizz, and hair loss.

The hibiscus in this concoction plays the role in providing moisture to the scalp. It also reduces the itchiness on it as well. On the other hand, the grapefruit seed extract acts as a stimulator for the immune system. As a result, it aids the body in combatting a number of scalp and skin problems.

Here’s what you need:

1 tablespoon hibiscus powder

4-ounce shea butter

8-ounce water

2-ounce aloe vera gel

1 teaspoon lavender essential oil

1 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract

Put the shea butter to its liquid state if it isn’t already. Mix everything aside from the lavender essential oil, the grapefruit seed extract, and hibiscus powder. Add the excluded ingredients into the mixture apart from the powder. Sprinkle hibiscus power into the mixture. Refrigerate as needed so as to attain wanted consistency.

Rosemary and Avocado Hair Mask

This particular conditioner is more concerned about revitalizing your scalp’s health and hair growth than retaining moisture.

The natural proteins which came from avocado help promote hair growth by working on each hair’s shaft. Rosemary essential oil, on the other hand, promotes healthy scalp by reducing inflammation.

Here’s what you need:

½ cup of raw shea butter

2 teaspoon avocado oil

6 drops of rosemary essential oil

Choose to melt she butter if it’s in solid form. Meanwhile, mix both avocado and rosemary essential oils. Combine everything as a single solution. Refrigerate so as to attain wanted consistency. Apply liberally as necessary.

Moisturizer Leave-in Conditioner

If you are looking for a budget DIY leave-in conditioner that works from the root to tip, this alternative solution is perfect for you. Using all-natural ingredients, this solution is as artificial-free as the rest of this list.

Apart from providing the hair with much-needed nutrients, this mixture also adds luster and prevents frizz.

Here’s what you need:

5-ounces of jojoba oil

5-ounces of sweet almond oil

1-ounce of vegetable glycerin

15 drops of rosemary essential oil

Pour everything into a spray bottle then shake to mix everything together. Don’t expect each ingredient to seamlessly blend with one another.

To complete the concoction, pour some water into the spray bottle until almost full. Give the bottle another shake.

Non-allergenic DIY Leave In Conditioner

Not all those who go DIY with their leave in conditioner are in it to save money. Others use it to steer clear from allergenic ingredients that are found in many commercial products.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are some natural ingredients that are allergenic to people. The solution, therefore, is to come up with a formula that is minimalist as possible.

Using only two ingredients, this DIY solution is the least intricate of all the concoctions in this list, yet it still remains effective. The vegetable glycerin in the mix has plenty of power to nourish and heal each strand from damage.

Here’s what you need:

Vegetable glycerin

Water

Simply pour the two ingredients together in a single container, preferably a bottle spray.

Curly Hair DIY Leave In Conditioner

If you have very curly hair, you know how hard the controlling process. Part of being able to style the hair is giving it ample enough care to become manageable.

However, that is not the main concern about hairstyling with curls – that’s the detangling process. If you are not too careful, you can easily damage otherwise normal curly hair.

This leave-in hair formula is meant to smooth that process, thanks to vegetable glycerin’s ability to moisturize and lessen frizz. This benefit is further compounded by the other natural ingredients in the solution.

Here’s what you need:

1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

½ tablespoon vegetable glycerin

10 drops essential oil

5 tablespoon distilled water

Pour everything together into a spray bottle. Continue shaking until the aloe vera is evenly distributed then apply the solution as needed for your hair.

Anti-dandruff DIY Leave In Conditioner

If you are suffering from a bad case of dandruff, there is a solution! As its name implies, this solution is targeted towards scalps plagued by dandruff.

This formula also benefits the hair, too. When applied, it gives life and luster to otherwise boring-looking hair.

Here’s what you need:

1 cup of distilled or purified water

½ cup of aloe vera juice

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

5 capsules or 1 tablespoon of vitamin E oil

40 drops essential oils

½ can coconut milk

Put everything into a single container to kickstart the mixing process then transfer the mixture into the spray bottle for convenience. Use 1-3 times a week, depending on your need.

Coconut Oil

By itself, coconut oil is a potent element for maintaining quality hair. Why bother adding other ingredients when it does the job just fine alone?

Here’s what you need:

Pure and organic extra virgin coconut oil

Pure and organic extra virgin coconut oil is solid at room temperature so preheat the coconut oil first and apply in its liquid form.

DIY Leave In Conditioner for Clean Feel

When you want your hair to look sleek, this is the perfect solution for shiny hair hair shine. This DIY solution provides a long-term effect, thanks to the rooibos tea’s antioxidant properties.

Here’s what you need:

1 tablespoon coconut oil

A few drops of essential oils

1 tablespoon ~ 2 cups of rooibos tea

There is no need for a complex process here, simply pour everything in a single container and begin mixing. Depending on your preference, you can easily add more rooibos tea during mixing, oversaturating the coconut oil.